by Unknown
I wasn’t sure he was right but it looked to me like we were losing this battle. “Very well sir. I’ll get the men to load their pistols. How long before you need them?”
“I’ll ride over and tell the general what we intend. Let’s say in an hour. Tell Danny he is in command until then.”
As I walked down the line I could see that there were wounded men. I could see no bodies and I thanked the lord for that. When I reached Danny I gave him his orders and explained what we were going to do.
He shook his head, “It seems to me that there are five cavalry regiments who are trained to do that sort of thing. We are scouts.”
“I think he means to use a pistol charge. When the general attacked with his men they were using single shot rifles. We have thirty three men with two pistols. That is one hell of a lot of lead!”
Major Boswell came back with a smile on his face. “It seems the general likes the idea. He is worried they might break through to the railroad. Jack you take the right and I will take the left. I think that will suit me. If we ride hard and fast and then halt thirty paces from them we should be able to do some damage.” He suddenly looked a little apprehensive. “Do you think our men can stop that quickly and fire?”
“If they can’t then no one can.”
“You go and get the men ready. I want to have a word with Danny.”
When I reached the men I noticed that Jed was mounted on one of the horses. He gestured with his thumb at a trooper who was vomiting over the rear wall. “He was one of the boys with Carlton. It seems the cook at the railroad ain’t as good a cook as me.”
I suddenly felt better. “Good then you can ride on the right. We are going to charge. Halt at thirty yards, empty our pistols and then skedaddle.”
He gave me a wry smile. “Well that doesn’t seem hard does it sir?” He looked around at the men. “You heard the lieutenant. You all stop on command, empty your pistol and get back here. Any man who gets himself killed will be on a charge and shovelling horse shit for a week!”
The major arrived. “As First Sergeant is here I thought that I would ride in the middle. It gives us more command sir.”
He nodded his approval. “Let’s get this done.”
We returned to the wall. I saw what he and Danny had arranged. Troops A and D were ready to run out into the open ground between our two forces and fire. They would retreat and hopefully draw some eager Yankees on. Major Boswell nodded.
“A and D Troop, charge!”
The one hundred men leapt over the wall cheering and roaring. After twenty paces they threw themselves on the ground and began firing at the distant woods. They were just throwing a wall of lead at the enemy to keep their heads down. I kept my eye on the woods to our left in case any of them tried to sneak there and flank us.
“Retreat! Look like you are running scared boys! Pretend you are Yankees!”
They raced back and hurled themselves over the wall and lay prone beneath its rocky protection. I could see that many blue uniforms had raced across the open ground to pursue the retreating troopers. I saw officers with swords trying to force them back.
“Wildcats! Charge!”
We all galloped forwards and leapt the wall. The blue soldiers before us looked in horror as this mass of horseflesh hurtled towards them. It was the nightmare of every soldier who fought on foot; to be caught in the open by charging cavalry. They emptied their guns in our direction and ran. The major shouted the order to enable us to take advantage of the situation. “Fire!”
It is not easy to fire a Colt from the back of a charging horse but we had all mastered the technique and I saw Yankee cavalrymen falling to the lead of the 1st Virginia. As we neared the tree line I saw that the boys from Pennsylvania were fleeing. The major turned and shouted to the dismounted regiment, “Danny! They are retreating! Charge!”
It was our moment of triumph. The whole of the right flank of the Union line was going to crumble. Just then, I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. I saw a grey coated officer, wearing no hat appear from the trees to the left of the major. He raised his pistol and shot the major in the back. It was Major Beauregard. He dragged the wounded major from the saddle and leapt onto Major Boswell’s horse.
“Jed, stay with the men and see to the major. I am off after Beauregard.” I holstered my revolver as I would need both hands to control Copper.
I had no idea if he had heard me but I had no time to waste. The Englishman had a fifty yard head start and was riding a mount as good as Copper but I could not let him escape me. I urged Copper on as my enemy dived into the woods. He was a good horseman, there was no doubt about that. My only advantage was that I knew the land around here better than he did. He was heading north and the railroad tracks. I was trying to second guess him. Where would he go? He had three enemies he need to be rid of, the major, Danny and me. He thought he had eliminated the major but so long as Danny and I lived then he would be tried. He could now be found guilty of attempted murder. He must have been desperate. Perhaps the death of Andrew Neil had unhinged him but it allowed me the freedom to do as I chose. All I had to do was to catch him and he was extending his lead which was making that unlikely. As he scrambled up the bank to the railroad tracks I saw that I had a chance. The major’s horse was struggling to carry the much heavier Englishman. If he made the mistake of trying to climb hills and banks then Copper would catch him. He rode down the railroad tracks and headed west. Once again he began to extend his lead. He glanced over his shoulder and slapped his horse’s rump. He began to move away again.
“Steady girl, just keep this pace. You can catch him.”
I leaned forwards and stroked her mane. He must have been confident that he could out run me. Suddenly a train appeared a hundred yards ahead of him and sounded his whistle. The major jerked his horse to the right. It was a bank! Instead of heading hard right I just took Cooper on an oblique route to take the slope at a gentler pace. The major had panicked and was trying to climb the steep bank. He was moving slower than I was. The train hurtled along the tracks and the hiss of steam made the major’s horse skitter and he slid a little way down the bank. The was now just forty yards ahead of me and he began to take the same tack as I was on, still climbing but gentler. He had taken too much out of his horse and, like a fisherman with a big fish, I was reeling him in, inexorably. I could have drawn my Colt and shot him but I risked hurting Major Boswell’s horse. I now knew that I could and would catch him. He made for a break in the trees and briefly disappeared from sight. I slowed down. I had ambushed too many men to walk into an obvious trap. I headed to the right of the gap and I saw that he had halted and had his captured gun aimed at the gap through which he expected me to charge. I kicked hard and Copper leapt forwards. He tried to bring the gun to bear on the sudden apparition but we crashed into him and I leapt from my horse and knocked him to the ground. The two horses ran down the slope. He still held his Colt and I reached for mine but it had fallen from my holster. I slipped my hand down to my boot and grabbed my knife. He was a bigger man than me and he pushed hard against me as we rolled down the bank. I held his right hand in my left and tried to bring the Bowie knife up and into his stomach. He grabbed my right hand but I was the stronger and the blade inched its way up as we rolled down the bank. We struck the rails and our downward journey was halted. Our faces were inches apart.
“You and your sister should have died with the scum that were your parents. You do not deserve to live!”
I was not angry. My anger had been burned away years ago. I was ready for revenge and I did not need to talk him to death; I would just kill him. The knife was moving closer to him and I saw the panic in his eyes. My left hand had his right pushed back almost on the ground. He pulled the trigger and the recoil jerked our hands up but the gun came no closer to me than before.
I felt the knife catch on his belt and I pushed a little harder. Hauling sails in a force nine gale gives you a solid strength and the blade slid over the belt
and began to cut into his jacket.
His eyes showed his fear. “Please! Let me live. I’ll give you money. I am a rich man!”
I said nothing but focussed on pushing the point of the knife into him. Suddenly he could resist no longer and the blade suddenly slipped into his gut. I felt the warm blood dripping down my arm. He cried out and dropped the gun. I rose to my feet and twisted the blade free. The movement of the twisting blade had the effect of pulling his intestines and the terrified major tried to push them back in. I stood and watched him as he cried and moaned. “Help me! Please help me!”
Finally I spoke. “You have killed my parents. You have tried to kill me and my friends. You have led brave men to an unnecessary death and you want me to help you.” I shook my head. “I am going to watch you die. And you will die. But you will not die quickly. You will have the chance to reflect on what you have done before you die and then rot in hell. The last thing you will see will be my face and the memory that a potato farmer’s son killed you.”
His face became whiter and the blood pooled beneath his body as he died. It took twenty minutes for all life to leave him and I waited another ten to allow all the blood to pour onto the ground. I did not want to distress Major Boswell’s horse with his blood. I went down to the railroad tracks and collected the two horses. They had had time to calm down and they followed me docilely to the dead body. I heave the carcass on to the back of the major’s horse. I crossed the tracks and headed for the sound of the distant pop and crack of desultory gun fire. There was still fighting but I felt at peace. I had avenged my parents.
General Fitzhugh and Jeb Stuart saw me and my trophy. General Fitzhugh lifted the major’s dead head. “So we did not need a trial.”
“No sir, he ran and shot the major in the back!”
“Is he alive?” I could see the shock on both their faces. Leaders like Major Boswell were few and far between.
“I don’t know sir. I went after the killer. I didn’t want him escaping.”
“Send a messenger to me when you know the condition of the major. His charge and the actions of his regiment saved the day. The Yankees have withdrawn back over the river.”
“I will tell the colonel the news sir.”
I wondered what I would find when I reached the regiment. Both the colonel and the major had been in dire straits when I had left. Would they still be alive?
Dago shouted my welcome, “Yee haw! He’s alive. Lucky Jack sir, and I think he has got another deserter.” He patted Copper as I passed. “Glad to see you Jack.”
“How is the major?”
He shook his head. “Not so good. The doctor and David are with him. I’ll take care of this piece of meat.”
I dismounted and led Copper towards the huddle of men around the doctor. Danny came over and clasped my arm. “I am glad you are safe and glad you got the murdering bastard.” He gestured at the doctor. “The ball is lodged in his back. It is close to his spine. If they make a mistake he may never walk even if he does survive.”
Suddenly I heard the doctor shout as he stood up. “I can’t do this! If he dies you will all kill me!” Before we could do anything he had turned and fled.
Danny and I went over to David. “You are his only hope David.”
“I am not a doctor.”
I put my hand on his shoulder, “But you know what to do don’t you? You have a steady hand and the sawbones left his tools. We’ll help you won’t we sir?”
Taking off his jacket Danny said. “Of course and with Lucky Jack helping then he is sure to survive.”
I took off my jacket and we looked at David. He sighed, “Take an arm and a leg each. Do not let him move. We have given him something to knock him out but any movement could be a disaster.”
I put all of my weight on the arm and the leg on my side and I watched Danny do the same on the other. Danny laughed as David poured alcohol over the scalpel he had selected. “Well it looks like two Irishmen who are a little on the large side do have a use after all.
“Well let’s add an old fat Sergeant Major to that. I’ll hold his head.” Sergeant Major Vaughan joined us on the ground.
“How is the colonel?”
“He’s just tired. He’ll live but I think it is time for him to go back home. Fighting is a young man’s game.”
David took a deep breath, “Right here we go.” H gently probed the back of the wound. As the scalpel touched the skin I felt an involuntary movement from the major but my grip was so tight that he did not move. “That’s it sir; just lean on him as hard as you can. I have found the ball.” He took some forceps and eased them into the wound. A soft moan came from the major. David said, “He can’t feel anything. This will be like a dream to him.” I could see the sweat on his forehead as he eased the forceps out. Suddenly there was a clunk as he dropped the ball into the metal bowl. Danny cheered but David said. “We have to clean out the wound and make sure there’s nothing left in. Remember when his wound was infected before? I am not risking that.” He took some gauze and began to mop around the wound. He suddenly dropped the scalpel and pick up the forceps. There was a little chink as the tiny fragment of ball was dropped in to the bowl. “And now we can stitch him up.”
The next ten minutes seemed to last forever but when he was bandaged we rolled him gently on to his back. The four of us just dropped, exhausted to the ground. We all jumped when we heard his sleepy voice say, “Did we win then?”
Epilogue
March 18th 1863
The 1st Virginia Scouts rode back to Front Royal without either a colonel or a major. Colonel Cartwright was persuaded by the redoubtable Sergeant Major to retire. Captain Murphy and Lieutenant Hogan were summoned to General Stuart’s Headquarters.
The two generals, Fitzhugh and Stuart were smiling from ear to ear. Captain Murphy thought that it was inappropriate given the serious injury to his beloved major but he was used to obeying orders. The two of them stood to attention listening to the fulsome praise being heaped upon the whole regiment but the two of them in particular.
“Now we don’t want to bring an outsider in to what is a very efficient regiment. The loss of Colonel Cartwright does leave a gap which needs filling. We have discussed the matter and we believe that the best man for the job will be Major Boswell when he is recovered. He will need rest for a month but by April he should be back at the reins, so to speak. In the meantime, while Colonel Boswell recovers, we would like you Major Murphy to run the regiment. You have moulded D Troop into an efficient fighting machine. And, in addition, we would like to promote Lieutenant Hogan to Captain Hogan.”
Danny couldn’t hide his smile. Jack had the same look he always had when he received praise- it was a look of absolute shock as though he was the last person deserving of any notice.
“Well gentlemen, what do you say?”
Major Murphy saluted and said, “On behalf of all three of us I would like to accept.”
Jack mumbled a, “Yes sir, thank you sir.”
“Now we will be in action within a few weeks and, hopefully, Colonel Boswell will be fit enough to assume command. Until then you need to establish the chains of command in the regiment. Appoint a new Sergeant Major….”
“And, sir, if you don’t mind, a doctor.”
“Quite. Any other requests while we are both here.”
“The Magee brothers sir, I think it would be better for all if they were transferred to another regiment. I don’t doubt their loyalty but their close relationship with Major Beauregard…”
“I see your point. Very well. If that is all then you are dismissed.”
As the two officers left the building neither could quite believe the change in their fortunes. Jack turned to Danny, “I wouldn’t have accepted it if they had any other colonel in command.”
“Me neither but you realise that we are Confederate soldiers now and we don’t have much say in it. At least the major, er the colonel will be well looked after. Jarvis will see that he gets the best of
everything.”
“It would have been nice to go back with him.”
“Aye Jackie Boy, but we have a deal of work to do. The Yankee cavalry is getting better and they will need our skills well enough. And now we had better break the good news to the lads.”
Jack shook his head, “I dread to think what Dago will say. He will be bound to have some sarcastic comment.”
“Well we will just have to deal with it. At least we still have the heart of the Wildcats beating in the regiment.”
Jack didn’t know it but Danny was talking about him. Lucky Jack Hogan was the heart of the regiment. He always had been and the last few months had just proved it to Danny and James. They had seen the effect of his leadership and his courage. Amidst all that was his luck- he had it in abundance.
Atlanta
Ebenezer Winfield was sniffing the smuggled brandy he had just acquired. He was feeling pleased with himself. It had all worked out rather well. His daughter had had her fling and she would now accept a husband of her father’s choice. He had not known that Beauregard would have been quite as black a character as he had turned out but the old man had a nose for villains, after all he was one himself, and he was glad he had set the man the challenge he had. He was also celebrating for he had become much richer. His own investigations had discovered the criminal empire being run form Beauregard’s home and he had gained control of it as soon as the leading members of the gang had left for Winchester. Yes it was a satisfactory outcome to something which could have turned out much worse.
Boston
Caitlin read the advertisement again.
Jack Hogan of Cork is seeking his sister Caitlin whom he believes is living in New York or Boston. If anyone knows of her whereabouts please contact Aloysius J Murgatroyd Attorney at Law Charleston, South Carolina. There is a $100 reward for information about the young lady.
Jack was alive and in the south. She knew that it might as well be the other side of the world but the important thing was he was alive. She was glad that she had postponed her marriage. That, if it ever happened, could wait until after she was reunited with her brother.
